Animals ; Macaca mulatta ; Optic Disk ; Glaucoma ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Intraocular Pressure ; Low Tension Glaucoma

Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.

Objective To compare the value of Child-Pugh score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, MELD combined with serum sodium concentration (MELD-Na) score, CLIF Consortium Acute Decompensation (CLIF-C AD) score, and Freiburg index of post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) survival (FIPS) score in predicting the survival of patients undergoing TIPS. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 447 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent TIPS in several hospitals in southwest China, among whom there were 306 patients in the survival group and 62 in the death group. The scores of the above five models were calculated, and a survival analysis was performed based on these models. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the Pearson chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; a multivariate Cox regression analysis was used for correction analysis of known influencing factors with statistical significance which were not included in the scoring models; the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the discriminatory ability of each model in identifying risks in the surgical population, and the log-rank test was used for analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), C-index at different time points, and calibration curve were used to evaluate the predictive ability of each scoring model. Results Compared with the death group, the survival group had significantly lower age ( Z =2.884, P < 0.05), higher albumin ( t =3.577, P < 0.05), and Na + ( Z =-3.756, P < 0.05) and significantly lower proportion of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis ( χ 2 =22.674, P < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase ( Z =2.141, P < 0.05), prothrombin time ( Z =2.486, P < 0.05), international normalized ratio ( Z =2.429, P < 0.05), total bilirubin ( Z =3.754, P < 0.05), severity of ascites ( χ 2 =14.186, P < 0.05), and scores of the five models (all P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that all scoring models effectively stratified the prognostic risk of the patients undergoing TIPS. Comparison of the C-index of each scoring model at different time points showed that Child-Pugh score had the strongest ability in predicting postoperative survival, followed by MELD-Na score, MELD score, and CLIF-C AD score, and FIPS score had a relatively poor predictive ability; in addition, the prediction efficiency of each score gradually decreased over time. Child-Pugh score had the largest AUC of 0.832 in predicting 1-year survival rate after surgery, and MELD-Na score had the largest AUC of 0.726 in predicting 3-year survival rate after surgery, but FIPS score had a poor ability in predicting 1- and 3-year survival rates. Conclusion All five scoring models can predict the survival of patients with liver cirrhosis after TIPS and can provide effective stratification of prognostic risk for such patients. Child-Pugh score has a better ability in predicting short-term survival, while MELD-Na score has a better ability in predicting long-term survival, but FIPS score has a relatively poor predictive ability in predicting both short-term and long-term survival.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of digestive system symptoms and its relation with the time of nucleic acid continuous positive in population infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant, and to analyze the abdominal computed tomography (CT) features of patients infected with Omicron variant.Methods:From April 11 to May 23, 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted in patients infected with Omicron variant admitted to the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center Fangcang Hospital. The questionnaire included basic information, the start time of nucleic acid positive, respiratory symptoms, digestive system syptoms and outcomes, etc.Combined with the clinical data, the relation between digestive tract symptoms and the time of nucleic acid continuous positive were analyzed. Thoracic and abdominal CT were performed for patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results ≥10 d, and the relationship between the abdominal CT imaging characteristics and the time of nucleic acid continuous positive was analyzed. Independent sample t-test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 4 360 valid questionnaires were collected, including 2 475 males and 1 885 females, with a hospital stay of (6.8±4.9) d. Among the 4 360 patients, 1 979 patients (45.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort or pain, constipation and diarrhea. The time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was (7.4±5.5) d, which was longer than that of patients without gastrointestinal symptoms (6.5±3.6) d, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.78, P<0.001). During the isolation period in the Fangcang Hospital, the time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with complete remission of digestive tract symptoms was shorter than that of patients with no remission of digestive tract symptoms ((7.3±5.2) d vs. (8.5±5.7) d), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.25, P=0.025). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of gastrointestinal symptoms was an independent risk factor for continuous positive nucleic acid result ≥10 d ( OR=1.316, 95% confidence interval 1.294 to 2.205, P=0.046). Among the 299 patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results≥10 d, 187 cases (62.5%) had gastrointestinal symptoms, and 146 cases (48.8%) had abdominal CT findings of thickening of the gastroduodenal wall, thickening of the small intestinal wall, indistinct mesenteric vessels of the small intestine, and dilatation and pneumatosis of the colon. In patients with continuous positive nucleic acid results ≥10 d, abdominal CT indicated that patients with gastrointestinal imaging changes had a longer time of nucleic acid continuous positive than those without gastrointestinal imaging changes ((16.0±2.8) d vs. (13.0±2.1) d), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.62, P=0.009). Conclusions:Digestive system symptoms are common in patients infected with Omicron variant. The time of nucleic acid continuous positive in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms is longer than those without gastrointestinal symptoms. Some patients may have gastrointestinal lesions on abdominal CT.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features of special portal hypertension-Abernethy malformation reported at home and abroad.Methods:The relevant literature on Abernethy malformation published at home and abroad from January 1989 to August 2021 was collected. Patients'clinical features, imaging and laboratory test results, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were analyzed.Results:A total of 380 cases were included from 60 and 202 domestic and foreign literatures. Among them, there were 200 cases of type I, with 86 males and 114 females, and the average age was (17.08±19.42) years, while there were 180 cases of type II, with 106 males and 74 females, and the average was (14.85±19.60) years. The most common reason for the first visit of an Abernethy malformation patient's was gastrointestinal system symptoms such as hematemesis and hematochezia caused by portal hypertension (70.56%). Multiple malformations were present in 45.00% of type Ⅰ and 37.80% of type Ⅱ patients. The most prevalent condition was congenital heart disease (62.22%, and 73.53%). Complications related to Abernethy malformation was occurred in 127 and 105 cases with type I and type II, respectively, with liver lesions in 74.02% (94/127) and 39.05% (42/105) and hepatopulmonary syndrome of 33.07% (42/127) and 39.05% (41/105), respectively. The imaging diagnosis of type I and type II Abernethy malformations were mainly based on abdominal computed tomography (59.00%, and 76.11%). Liver pathology was performed in 27.10% of patients. Blood ammonia increased by 89.06% and 87.50%, and AFP increased by 29.63% and 40.00% in laboratory findings. 9.76% (8/82) and 6.92% (9/130) died, while 84.15% (61/82) and 88.46% (115/130) had improved conditions after medical conservative, or surgical treatment.Conclusion:Abernethy malformation is a rare disease in which congenital portal vein development abnormalities lead to significant portal hypertension and portasystemtic shunt. Patients often seek medical treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain. Type Ⅰ is more common in women, often associated with multiple malformations, and prone to secondary intrahepatic tumors. Liver transplantation is the main treatment method. Type Ⅱ is more prevalent in males, and shunt vessel occlusion is the first treatment choice. Overall, type Ⅱ has a better therapeutic impact than type Ⅰ.

ObjectiveTo investigate the gastroscopic manifestations of gastric mucosa in portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and the association of PHG with gastroesophageal varices, ulcers, and liver cirrhosis complications. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 867 patients with liver cirrhosis who were treated in Daping Hospital of Army Medical University from August 2012 to June 2018, and the incidence rates of gastroesophageal varices, PHG, and ulcers were recorded. Meanwhile, the data of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were collected. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups, and a Spearman correlation analysis was also performed. ResultsThe incidence rate of PHG in the patients with liver cirrhosis reached 66.2% (574/867), and gastric mucosa abnormalities in mild PHG were mainly red-spot lesions (68.6%) and snakeskin (56.8%), while diffuse erythema (76.5%) was the main gastric mucosa abnormality in severe PHG. There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with different severities of esophageal varices (χ2=304712, P＜0.05), and the severity of PHG increased with the aggravation of esophageal varices (r=0.515, P＜0.05). There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with different severities of gastric varices (χ2=81.004, P＜0.05), and the severity of PHG was positively correlated with that of gastric varices (r=0.292, P＜0.05). There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with varices at different locations (χ2=41.361, P＜0.05); the patients with gastric varices alone had the lowest incidence rate of PHG (34.8%) and only had mild PHG, and those with gastroesophageal varices had the highest incidence rate of PHG (85.6%). Among the patients without PHG, 71 (24.2%) were hospitalized due to hematemesis and/or tarry stool, and among the 574 patients with PHG, 316 (55.1%) were hospitalized, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (χ2=74562, P＜0.05). ConclusionPatients with different severities of PHG have different features of gastric mucosa abnormalities. The development and severity of PHG are closely associated with the severity of gastroesophageal varices and are important causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. PHG should be treated and prevented to reduce the risk and complications of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: To investigate awareness of digestive system injury caused by corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in gastroenterologists. Methods: From February 21 to 23 in 2020, the electronic questionnaire was sent out to explore the condition of the basic knowledge of COVID-19 and knowledge of digestive system injury caused by COVID-19 grasped by gastroenterologists. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 2 216 gastroenterologists from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide completed the survey. 99.7% (2 209/2 216) of gastroenterologists stated that they had read the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment guidelines. The percentage of physicians who well knew the diagnostic criteria of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 34.9% (774/2 216) and 39.4% (874/2 216), respectively. The percentage of physician who gave the right answer of COVID-19 detectable methods and lung imaging was 68.4% (1 516/2 216) and 71.6% (1 586/2 216), respectively. The percentage of correct answer of digestive system injury caused by COVID-19 in residents, attending physicians, associate chief physicians and chief physicians was 30.9% (134/433), 33.9% (234/691), 32.4% (213/657) and 34.9% (152/435), respectively, however there were no statistically significant differences among physicians of different level (χ²=6.60, P> 0.05). 95.6% (2 119/2 216) of gastroenterologists believed that probiotics could effectively improve bowel function, and 94.0% (2 082/2 216) of gastroenterologists considered that enteral nutrition support could improve patients’ prognosis. Conclusions The knowledge and dynamic progress of the digestive system injury caused of COVID-19 are still insufficiently grasped by gastroenterologists in China. So it is necessary to carry out systematic and pertinent training for them.

Objective:To investigate the awareness of digestive system injury caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in gastroenterologists.Methods:From February 21 to 23 in 2020, the electronic questionnaire was used to learn about the condition of the basic knowledge of COVID-19 and awareness of digestive system injury caused by COVID-19 among the gastroenterologists across the country. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 2 216 gastroenterologists from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities nationwide completed the survey. 99.7% (2 209/2 216) of gastroenterologists stated that they had read the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment guidelines. The percentages of physicians who knew clearly about the diagnostic criteria of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 34.9% (774/2 216) and 39.4% (874/2 216), respectively. The percentages of physician who gave the right answers of COVID-19 detectable methods and pulmonary imaging was 68.4% (1 516/2 216) and 71.6% (1 586/2 216), respectively. The percentages of correct answers of digestive system injury caused by COVID-19 were physicians and chief physicians was 30.9% (134/433) in residents, 33.9% (234/691) attending physicians, 32.4% (213/657) associated chief physicians and 34.9% (152/435) chief physicians, respectively, however there were no statistically significant differences among physicians with different professional titles ( χ2=6.60, P> 0.05). 95.6% (2 119/2 216) of gastroenterologists believed that probiotics could effectively improve bowel function, and 94.0% (2 082/2 216) of gastroenterologists considered that enteral nutrition support could improve patients’ prognosis. Conclusions:The knowledge and dynamic progress of the digestive system injury caused by COVID-19 are still insufficiently grasped by gastroenterologists in China. So it is necessary to carry out systematic and pertinent training programmes for them.

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) is widely used for reducing portal hypertension. Post-TIPS anticoagulant treatment is controversial because of lack of obligatory evidence. Aims: To systematically review the effect of anticoagulant treatment on patients with liver cirrhosis after TIPS. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of liver cirrhosis patients after TIPS with anticoagulant treatment (anticoagulant treatment group) or without anticoagulant treatment/placebo (control group) were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, CBM and VIP databases in March 2020. Meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3. Results: Three RCTs involving 157 liver cirrhosis patients were enrolled. These studies mainly reported the effects of anticoagulant treatment on gastrointestinal rebleeding, stent patency, mortality and incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Meta-analysis revealed that no significant differences in total gastrointestinal bleeding rate (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.25-4.38, P=0.96), variceal bleeding rate (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.14-7.68, P=0.97), stent stenosis (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 0.73-4.79, P=0.19), occlusion (OR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.00-1.44, P=0.09), shunt dysfunction (OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.10-4.29, P=0.67), mortality (OR=2.12, 95% CI: 0.06-72.77, P=0.68) and incidence of HE (OR=1.18, 95% CI: 0.45-3.06, P=0.74) were found between anticoagulant treatment group and control group. Conclusions: Post-TIPS anticoagulant treatment is safe and without increasing the rate of gastrointestinal rebleeding, mortality and incidence of HE. However, anticoagulant treatment does not further improve the stent patency. Therefore, anticoagulant treatment appears to be unnecessary in patients with liver cirrhosis after TIPS.